The following article fills the front page of todays Gold Coast Bulletin and a
page inside - RAMSAR at work and one for the birds I say!
David Taylor
Brisbane
27Jun08 Front page Gold Coast Bulletin
Broadwater islands lost to Russian birds
TWO small islands that have been created in the past five years because of a
lack of dredging in the Broadwater are attracting roosting migratory birds,
which means they are now protected under Commonwealth law and a special habitat
protection treaty.
Other islands, including Wavebreak Island, are also protected.
If the State Government does decide to fund a $17 million dredging program
being recommended by the marine industry, it faces environmental obstacles with
the Federal Government.
It also faces conservation concerns over the impact of the new superyacht
marina to be built on the western side of The Spit.
Parts of the Broadwater, including these small islands, are covered by the
Ramsar Treaty set up 34 years ago to protect the natural habitat of migratory
birds, the majority of which come from Siberia.
According to Commonwealth legislation, if an action, such as the removal or
reshaping of the relevant islands, would have a significant impact on a listed
migratory species 'the person or entity proposing to take the action would have
to apply to the Commonwealth for the Environment Minister's approval'.
The Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
prohibits actions that have, will have, or are likely to have a 'significant
impact' on a listed migratory species, unless the approval of the Commonwealth
Environment Minister is first obtained'.
Other environmental approvals may also be required from the Queensland
Government under the Marine Vegetation Act.
Two small islands have been created south of Wavebreak Island and near Sea
World as a result of a major shortfall in dredging funding, causing major
siltation problems, which is frustrating boaties.
Sailors now rate the Broadwater as the most difficult waterway in Queensland to
navigate and the marine industry is lobbying the Government for a $17 million
dredging program.
A whale made its way into and out of the Broadwater last week and boaties say
it's only a matter of time before a large mammal gets stuck.
The State Government has met with industry stakeholders and is working on a new
strategy aimed at easing the siltation problem.
Southport state MP Peter Lawlor yesterday said $1.5 million worth of dredging
had been carried out on navigation channels. "This problem could affect the
superyacht proposal," he said.
"I have always maintained that the Broadwater is a shallow estuary and that's
what it will remain."
Tenders for the super-yacht marina on The Spit have been lodged with the
Queensland Government and a shortlist is expected to be announced soon.
Species among the roosting birds include the straw-necked ibis, the white ibis,
the wading bird, glossy ibis, royal spoonbills, pink-eared ducks, and
cormorants.
The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty for 'the conservation and
sustainable utilisation of wetlands', set up at Ramsar, Iran, on February 2,
1971 and it came into force on December 21, 1975.
The Ramsar wetlands list includes 1708 sites (known as Ramsar Sites) covering
about 1,530,000km, up from 1021 sites in 2000.
Most of Saltwater Creek in the Coombabah Wetlands is covered by Ramsar.
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